AstraZeneca reaches agreement with PHARMAC

AstraZeneca reaches agreement with PHARMAC to resupply cancer treatment Zoladex to New Zealand patients

Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca New Zealand Ltd today announced that it had reached a verbal agreement with the Pharmaceutical Management Agency of New Zealand (PHARMAC) to continue supplying its prostate and breast cancer medicine Zoladex® to the local market.

AstraZeneca last week decided to withdraw the drug because of PHARMAC’s decision to cut the subsidy to Zoladex®. However, it has today reached a new agreement with PHARMAC for the long-term supply of both the 3.6mg and 10.8 mg dosages of the drug to the New Zealand market, following discussions with the agency. As part of the agreement, the drug will continue to be fully funded.

“We are still finalising the written agreement,” said AstraZeneca New Zealand General Manager Lance Gravatt. “But given the importance of the issue, we are today notifying clinicians that supplies will be available for the holiday period and thereafter. We are very pleased that this issue has been satisfactorily resolved in the best interests of patients and clinicians.”

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